The Best Bars in Fitzroy, Melbourne

Polly Bar is Fitzroy’s classic sombre cocktail and cigar lounge. Class is at the forefront of this cool Victorian-style bar, with its elegant deep-red interior, chandeliers, espresso Martinis and bartenders in crisp, dashing attire. You’ll feel like you’ve been taken back to the era of The Great Gatsby as you sip on one of the great, time-honored classic cocktails that are given only the greatest level of respect. Or perhaps try one of the original inventions by the team of exceptionally creative bartenders.

Don’t let the modern furniture and feel mislead you, the cocktails at Black Pearl Bar are authentic and traditional. The juxtaposition between the drinks that are served in lavish vintage glassware, the 1970s and 80s pop-rock playlist, and the smooth, straightforward interior design is spectacularly pulled off. It’s a chaotic mess of ideas that can be accepted only in Fitzroy. Feel free to order off the menu. Or if you’d like to challenge your bartender with the most left-of-field drink that tickles your interest, you’re sure to be impressed.

From classy to grungy, Kewpie (formerly Bimbo Deluxe) and its famous $4 pizzas and range of Australian beers is a great example of the 21st century bohemian lifestyle for which Fitzroy is famous. This hipster haven showcases Melbourne’s musical talent, with live DJs playing every night of the week. Among the rusted metal decor and miss-matching lanterns, you’ll almost feel overdressed in jeans and a t-shirt. But it’s not just about trends and fashion here. It’s about atmosphere, music and great, cheap drinks.

In its short history The Everleigh, which opened in 2011, has been awarded with various accolades. This includes being placed on Drinks International’s list of ‘World’s 50 Best Bars’. The philosophy adopted here is one that prioritizes attention to detail, whether that’s in the impeccable service or the meticulous preparation of cocktails. The Everleigh’s focus is on the classic art of cocktail making, with a modest list of drinks. The bartenders are well trained in traditional cocktails from the era of a particular cocktail’s birth.